Cruise passengers to be met by Cork city guides

TOURISTS arriving on cruise ships in Cobh will be met by ambassadors from Cork city under a new initiative launched by Cork City Council.

More than 100,000 tourists will arrive in Cobh over the course of the 2017 cruise season, which runs from March to November.

Under its newly-launched cruise ambassador programme, Cork City Council is hoping to direct even more tourists to the city centre.

Research shows that as many as two-thirds of people arrive with no prior bookings for organised tours.

These people will now be met by ambassadors with tourist information and maps, as well as tips on all that Cork has to offer.

The programme has been welcomed by members of Cork City Council.

Fianna Fáil councillor Nicholas O'Keeffe, chair of the council's tourism committee, welcomed the initiative.

He said, "It is fantastic to see Cork City Council take a proactive approach toward generating footfall. It is a remarkable departure in terms of how we do business.

"There is an onus on the businesses of Cork and we should encourage them to market themselves and reach out to those coming into the city."

Independent councillor Kieran McCarthy said that the cruise liners represent a great opportunity for the city.

"The fact that over 60% of people will arrive on one of the 65 cruise lines this summer with no pre-booked plan means there is a huge opportunity for stakeholders to come together to create a sustainable package to bring a large percentage of undecided cruise liner visitors from the harbour to the city."